Washing Hands Properly: A Simple Defense Against Disease

Washing your hands well, for 20 to 30 seconds, can help prevent up to 200 common illnesses, according to Salud Digital. The correct steps are in our report.

Invisible to the eye, the surface of our hands hosts large numbers of microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria and fungi. They spread through contact with a sick or infected person and can cause respiratory and digestive illnesses, including COVID-19, pneumonia, hepatitis A and cholera.

Every May 5, World Hand Hygiene Day is observed, a date meant to remind people how important it is to prevent these diseases through a habit as basic as handwashing.

The most effective personal hygiene measure is washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 to 30 seconds, eight times a day. When soap and water are not available, a hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol can be used. According to Salud Digital, this simple act can help prevent up to 200 common illnesses, especially in children, who are more vulnerable to infection.

According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), in 2015 more than 300,000 children under five died worldwide from diarrheal diseases linked to lack of water, sanitation and hygiene. The agency urges children, families and communities to make handwashing a regular practice.

Hands should be washed before and after eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, after using the bathroom or changing a baby's diaper, after touching garbage, after contact with animals, and after visiting parks, plazas, markets or using public transport.

To do it properly, follow these five steps: wet your hands with water; apply enough soap to cover them; rub the entire surface, including the backs of the hands, between the fingers and under the nails, for at least 20 seconds; rinse well with water; and dry them with a clean cloth or a single-use towel.